Container



R. E. MOYER CONTAINER May 9, 1944."

Filed Aug. 12, 1940 INVENTOR:

ATTORNEY.

Patented May 9, 1944 Ralph 'E. Moyer, New Bnfialm'Michi, assignor to Kidd, Dater & Price Grocery 00., Benton Har- 1 hot, Mich., a corporation of Michigan r Application August 12, 1940, Serial Nassau!) 1' Claim.

This invention relates in general to a container made of light weight splints or laminations of wood or other similar light weight materials commonly employed in making baskets, crates and boxes for fruits, vegetables and other commodities but notintended as a knock-down structure, nor havingthe permanence of continued useand reuse.

I An important object of the invention is in the provision of a substituted basket or container which is made generally in rectangular form and in standard container sizes such as a bushel, peck, or the like, and therefore particularly adapted for containing fruit,; vegetables and other commodities which are sold in such measures.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of alight weight container in which the parts are made up in flat form to occupy a minimum space for storing and shipping and are provided with means for assembling and conmeeting the parts whenever a unit is desired for,v

use.

A further object of the invention is 'inthe provision of a measure or container having an attachable top and bottom so thatit may be filled with the top attached and the bottom left open, thus permiting fruit and the like to be packed or faced against the coverv and a detachable bottom applied'after the receptacle is filled.-

A still further objectfof the invention is in the provision of a light weight container made of flexible splints or the like attached together by rims or staves in which staples are inserted through adjacent edges of the splints for binding them more securely in place.

A still further object of .the invention is in the provision ofimproved means for connecting and fastening the parts of the containers together, such that the top or bottom may be hinged to the sides and the assembled sides may be easily connected without any special tools or implements and the fastenings may be easily disengaged without special tools if necessary or desirable.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the specification and will be apparent from the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective of a basket or container in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a development of the side walls of the container as constructed and before folding and fastening the parts together;

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail showing the attachment of the bottom and cover;

. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of, the corner fastening on the line 4-4 of Fig. I;

Fig. 5 is another detail of the corner fasten-.

ing taken on the line' 5- --5 of Fig. l; .and Fig. 6 is a modified bottomfast'ening.

The bushel. measure now commonly used is.

usually circular, therefore it. does not pack or stack compactly with other measures of the same kind. Waste space is left between baskets in the same course, and even when empty such.

baskets or -containersrequire a considerable storage space. Such. measures also are filled from the bottom'andifia lid or cover is applied at the top, the upper layer of fruit, vegetables and the like must be carefully fitted in .place or itwill'be damaged bythe application of the cover.

The present invention overcomes these objections by providing side walls, tops and bottoms in flat knock-down'iorm but equipped with regiistering ia'stening...loops by which the sides are readily setup fland theftop and bottom easily attached thereto. overlying and resting upon the .7 edges. of the connected sides. The connection of the top and bottom is. such that it may be readily disengaged or partially disengaged to provide a hinged cover, the type of fastening requiring no special'toolfor connecting. or disconnecting the. parts.

Referring now more. particularly to the drawing, a square or rectangular package as shown in Fig. 1' comprises a plurality of slats, staves or splints lll,}made from thin veneered or sliced sheets of wood, which",.f.'when dry, isilig'ht and sufliciently strong "for temporary use.

These slats are laid parallel, usually edge to edge and not overlapped, a rim II is applied across the ends both above and below the slats and elongated staples I2 are clinched through the opposite rims and overlapping the edges or connections between the staves. Intermediate the ends, another strap or stave I3 is similarly applied and attached preferably on the outer side only by staples l4.

Four similar sections are thus assembled with the inner rims having a cut or break l5 spanned by a staple l2 but with the outer strap l 3 usually left unbroken and continuous from end to end.

At one end of the outer straps and rims are the outer loop connections of staples la adapted to cooperate and to engage similar projecting staples I! at the other ends so that when the that figure, the projecting end of the staple I1 is partially bent as shown in the middle connector, and the finished engagement is shown by the lower connection in that figure.

At the upper and lower edges of the container sections, staples l8 are inserted through the rims and project at the ends as shown in Fig. 2, for the alternate container sections and the other sections are usually provided with a single central staple l9 and a similar but larger handle 20 projecting outwardly'from the upper edge only of the sections.

The top and bottom of each container is similar and comprises a number of slats 2| arranged at right angles to a similar number of slats to form a square or rectangular assembly of the proper dimensions, the piece of each course being spaced apart but rigidly being secured together by staples 22, and projecting from one edge of each cover member are the loops of a number of staples 23 which correspond in number and position to the loops of the staples I8 and 19 at the top and bottom of the assembled side walls so that the projecting extremities of the staples l8 and I9 form a guide for applying the cover .or bottom to the container, and after either one is in place, the projecting extremities of the staples I 8 and 19 are turned downwardly to hold the lid or cover in place.

The fastening means thus shown requires no particular implement either .for engaging the loops or staples or for disengaging them. Any pointed instrument such as an awl is inserted through the projecting loop and the loop is bent in the direction either to fasten or unfasten it. The material of the hooks is usually suiiiciently stifi and rigid that it cannot be twisted or disengaged by the fingers.

This construction is particularly adapted for filling .a container in upside down condition.

That is, the cover is applied and fastened, leaving the bottom open, the fruit, vegetables or other products are assembled in .the container, allowing a careful arrangement of the top row when the container'is upright. It also permits leveling off the bottom without so much regard to the arrangement or size of the material so that the bottom may be applied and fastened in place without damaging the fruit or material therein. After thus packed, the container is overturned and seated upon its bottom and successive layers or tiers of containers may be assembled close together, the handles 20 being disposed between and at the ends of the baskets in the same tier.

The ends of thewall .sections which are .con-

" bottom 25 is made of a size to fit within the inner rims l l as shown in Fig. 6. outwardly clinched ends and. an inwardly pro Staples 26 each with jecting loop are secured through the rims I l, and corresponding staples 21 are each secured through the bottom 25 leaving the loop end 28 standing at the edge. These loops register with and are inserted through the loop ends of staples 26, and the loop ends 28 are then bent over inwardly, clinching the bottom tightly in place.

While all of these'constructions may be connected and disconnected, it is not intended to provide a knock-down or utility container of the ordinary sense which is extended and folded after each successive use.

The material of which the container is made is of a weight and strength such that it is intended for temporary or marketing use, although it might be made of stronger material in the same manner for a more extended commercial use.

I claim:

A container for fruit, and the like, having four rectangular sides assembled flatly together in line, each side comprising upper and lower rims with transverse slats attached to the rims at top and bottom, the sides being connected by staples overlapping the joint, the outer ends having staples with projecting interengaging loops for connecting the sides,,the ends of each side having staples with loops extending therefrom to form upper and lower projections, a similar cover for each end fitting against and overlapping the ends of the sides so that either end can be used as the top or bottom, each cover comprising cross slats secured together with staples having loops extending at the edges and positioned to engage bendably with the corresponding loops from the sides, the sides and ends .having openings between the slats, either cover being removable, and the engaged staples at either side of a cover forming a hinge therefor when the staple connection with the other three sides is disengaged.

RALPH. E. MOYER. 

